You need at minimum an associate degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited program to work as a respiratory therapist. Most entry-level programs take about two years and require 60 to 65 credit hours. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are also available and open doors to higher-level roles, but the associate degree remains the baseline for entering the profession.
The Associate Degree: Minimum Requirement
An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in respiratory therapy is the standard entry point. These programs typically run two years for full-time students and cover around 60 to 65 credit hours. Coursework includes anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, mathematics, and hands-on clinical rotations where you practice working with patients on ventilators, oxygen therapy, and other breathing treatments.
The critical detail is accreditation. Your program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), which is the only body that accredits respiratory therapy programs in the United States. Graduating from a CoARC-accredited program is a hard requirement for sitting for your national credentialing exams. If you attend a program that isn’t CoARC-accredited, you won’t be eligible for licensure in any state. Before enrolling anywhere, verify the program’s accreditation status directly on CoARC’s website.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
A growing number of schools offer a Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy, usually a four-year program. CoARC accredits these programs under the same entry-into-practice standards it uses for associate programs, so graduates are equally eligible for national credentialing exams.
A bachelor’s degree gives you a competitive edge in the job market, particularly at large hospital systems that increasingly prefer or require a four-year degree. It also positions you better for promotions into supervisory or specialist roles without needing to go back to school later. If you already hold an associate degree in respiratory therapy, many universities offer degree advancement (or “bridge”) programs that let you complete a bachelor’s with one to two additional years of coursework, often online.
Master’s Degree for Advanced Roles
A Master of Science in respiratory care is designed for therapists who want to move beyond bedside clinical work. The degree prepares you for leadership, research, and education roles. Specific career paths that a master’s opens up include:
- Department leadership: positions like respiratory care department manager, director, or supervisor
- Education: teaching respiratory care at the college level, which typically requires at least a master’s degree
- Industry roles: training clinicians on new respiratory care equipment for medical device companies
- Research: designing and conducting studies related to respiratory care outcomes and quality improvement
- Infection control: collecting data and monitoring hospital infections for quality improvement programs
You don’t need a master’s to work as a clinical respiratory therapist, but it creates a meaningful differentiator when competing for advancement opportunities. CoARC accredits master’s-level programs as well, along with advanced practice programs at the graduate level.
National Credentialing Exams
Earning your degree is only the first step. To practice, you need to pass the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). This single exam determines which of two credential levels you earn, based on your score.
If you hit the lower passing threshold, you earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. If you score at the higher threshold, you earn the CRT and also become eligible to take the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). Passing the CSE earns you the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, which is the higher of the two and the one most employers prefer.
To be eligible for the TMC exam, you must be at least 18 years old and hold at minimum an associate degree from a CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy program. There is an alternative path for people who have held the CRT credential for at least four years and have completed at least 62 semester hours of college credit (including anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, and mathematics), but the standard route is completing an accredited degree program first.
State Licensure
Nearly every state requires respiratory therapists to hold a state license or permit in addition to the NBRC credential. Licensing requirements vary, but they almost always include graduating from a CoARC-accredited program and passing the TMC exam at minimum. Many states require the RRT credential specifically, and most require continuing education credits to renew your license on a regular cycle. Check your state’s medical or respiratory care licensing board for the exact requirements where you plan to practice.
Choosing the Right Program Level
If your goal is to start working as a bedside respiratory therapist as quickly as possible, an associate degree gets you there in roughly two years. You’ll be fully qualified to take the credentialing exams and apply for state licensure. This is still the most common path into the profession.
If you’re weighing a bachelor’s program, consider the long-term return. A four-year degree costs more upfront in tuition and time, but it positions you for higher starting pay at some employers and smoother advancement into supervisory or specialist roles. If you’re already working in healthcare or have transfer credits, a bachelor’s program may not add a full four years to your timeline.
For therapists already in the field who want to move into management, teaching, or research, a master’s degree is the clearest path. Many of these programs are designed for working professionals and offer flexible or online scheduling. The investment makes the most sense when you have a specific career goal that requires it, such as directing a respiratory care department or teaching at a university.